Russian tourists to Vietnam sharply increase

Russia has provided Vietnam with its most foreign visitors for the second year running, with 250,000 arrivals recorded in 2013.

The Association of Tour Operators of Russia credits the 71% improvement on 2012—70% higher than the set target—to Vietnam’s natural beauty, pleasant beaches, friendly people, historic sites, and delicious culinary specialties.

Many travel companies now run special vegetarian tours catering to Muslim clients.

Vietnam introduced 15-day visa exemptions for Russian tourists in 2009. Authorities are considering the extending the exemption to 30 days in 2014.

Vietnam and Russia are linked by a number of direct flights, including those between Saint Petersburg and Nha Trang and between Moscow and Nha Trang. The Moscow–Phu Quoc route will open soon.

Vietnam is expecting to welcome 300,000 Russian tourists in 2014.

Outdoor tours attract International visitors

Ho Chi Minh City is considered as one of attractive safe and friendly destinations for international travelers; therefore, the first days of New Year only, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed a huge of international passengers to City at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

They are 180 international passengers from Hong Kong (China), United Sates, Europe and others countries. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Ho Chi Minh City in collaboration with the HCMC Tourism Association, Vietnam Airline held a welcome ceremony for the first international passenger delegation to city on New Year’s Day.

In the early days of the New Year, eco-tourisms in Can Tho province attracted many domestic and foreign visitors. Pham Minh Sang, Depute Director of My Khanh tourism village, said that almost visitors are to excite folk games and cuisines.

Tam Dao tourist area offers free wifi service

Tam Dao tourist area has offered free wifi service since beginning of 2014, according to Department of Information and Communications of Vinh Phuc province.

The northern province of Vinh Phuc has spent nearly 15 billion VND (700,000 USD) for its free wifi project in an effort to lure more tourists to the region.

Visitors and local people will enjoy free wifi service until 2019, says the provincial Information and Communications department. Beyond 2019, customers will have to pay for wifi service.

Due to mountainous terrain, wi-fi hotspots were placed at hotels, or high buildings in the centre of Tam Dao town.

With Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Ha Long, Tam Dao is the 5th tourist destination which provides free wifi internet in Vietnam. The free wi-fi project aims to help tourists know more about people and culture of the region, thereby draw more tourists to Tam Dao, especially foreign tourists.

Tam Dao tourist area is located in Tam Duong District, 86km from Hanoi, covering Ban Thach, Thien Nhi and Phu Nghia mountains. The wonderful scenic spot is the ideal destination for vacation in the North of Vietnam.-

Thua Thien-Hue aims at 3 million tourist arrivals

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue targets 2.8 – 3 million tourist arrivals and a tourism turnover of 2.9 trillion VND (138.1 million USD) for 2014, a yearly rise of 18 percent.

To that end, Thua Thien-Hue has organised an array of tourism promotion activities in the capital city of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s economic-business hub, along with meetings with travel agencies in the locality to seek efficient collaboration.

The province plans to create more tourist products, offer off-season stimulus packages, and strengthen coordination with relevant sides to develop this smokeless industry.

On the first day of 2014, the world heritage site in the locality -- Hue imperial citadel -- welcomed nearly 3,500 foreign visitors, said Director of the Hue Relics Preservation Centre Phan Thanh Hai.

In 2013, Thua Thien-Hue received around 2.6 million tourists, including over 900,000 foreigners, and gained some 2.5 trillion VND (117.6 million USD) in revenue, a year-on-year increase of 11.7 percent from 2012.

Thailand topped in tourist arrivals to the province. It was followed by France, Australia, and the UK.

Thua Thien-Hue is home to the imperial Hue city complex and “Nha nhac” (royal court music), which were recognised as part of the world’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO.

Eco-tourism area opens in Central Highlands

The Luu Ly Waterfall Eco-tourism Complex has officially opened its doors to tourists yesterday at Nam N'Jang Commune, Dak Song District, in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong.

As the largest private eco-tourism complex in the region, the attraction covers an 85-ha area, including an accommodation zone and dining area, among other things.

Tourists can not only enjoy the picturesque natural landscape of the area but also learn about the rich cultures of the different ethnic groups living in the region by watching lavish artful performances.

In addition, they can join numerous outdoor activities such as camping, trekking, and mountain climbing.

The complex is a VND200-billion (US$9.52 million) project invested by the HCM City-based Lau Dai Service and Trading Company Ltd.

Binh Dinh targets 2 million tourists in 2014

The south-central province of Binh Dinh aims to welcome over two millions tourists in 2014 and increase tourism revenue by 32% to VND780,000 billion.

According to Provincial Culture, Sports and Tourism Department Deputy Director Nguyen Van Dung, to achieve its target, Binh Dinh is taking steps to improve the quality of its tourism products including promoting cultural activities and organizing seminars in hopes of turning Binh Dinh into a national tourism centre by attracting travel agencies and strategic investors.

Additionally, the province has made tourist destinations in the Quy Nhon urban area more attractive by adding a culinary street, road lights, night markets and art performances.

It continues to speed up the progress of investment and tourism infrastructure projects. The province is also devising an overall plan on tourism development till 2020 with a vision to 2030.

In 2013, Binh Dinh invested and upgraded many cultural and historical architectures and organized international and local events to serve tourists.

As a result, the province welcomed nearly 1.7 million visitors including 139,000 international arrivals by the end of 2013, up 16% from same period’s last year, earningVND603 billion, up 24%.

Lao Cai aims for 1.5 million visitors in 2014

The northern mountain province of Lao Cai is hoping to welcome 1.5 million visitors in 2014, earning at least VND2,850 billion from tourism services.

The provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism says the local tourism sector will continue developing its typical tourism products and tours to entice both domestic and foreign visitors.

The total number of tourists visiting Lao Cai reached 1.2 million in 2013, a 32.9% increase over the previous year and 10% higher than the set target. Almost 553,000 were international tourists, a 47.1% year-on-year improvement.

Tourism revenue for 2013 approached VND1,550 billion, 38.1% more than in 2012.

Lao Cai’s 2013 event highlights included the Sapa in the Clouds Festival, the Bac Ha Culture and Tourism Week, Thuong (Upper) Temple Spring Festival, and Bao Ha Temple Festival.

Heavy snowfalls late this year provided an unexpected boost to visitor numbers.

Lao Cai has more than 170 accommodation facilities, including nearly 50 hotels of 1–4 star standards, more than 90 restaurants, and homestay services.

Da Lat tourism week attracts over 200,000 visitors

Over 200,000 domestic and foreign visitors enjoyed the 2013 Da Lat Tourism and Culture Week in the Central Highlands city of the same name, dubbed as a “small Paris” or a “city of thousands of flowers”.

Opening on December 27, the local authorities took the opportunity to launch the 2014 Central Highlands-Da Lat National Tourism Year, celebrate the city’s 120th founding anniversary and the fifth Da Lat flower festival.

During the five-day event, visitors were charmed with music and dance performances, sightseeing tours and fascinating cultural events in a stunning floral setting.

In his closing speech, Deputy Chairman of the Lam Dong provincial People’s Committee Doan Van Viet said  Da Lat - a heroic and tourist city has become popular far and wide. Its floriculturists have seen the opportunity to access domestic and foreign markets, signaling that the city will become a major flower cultivation and export centre in the region.

The 2014 Central Highlands-Da Lat National Tourism Year themed “High Mountains, Thick Forests of Central Highlands” will host 37 events next year, 23 of which will take place in Da Lat, Lam Dong, and its neighboring localities.

Lam Dong province has developed six tours for the national tourism year, offering holiday-makers the chance to explore the natural beauty of forests, mountains, streams and waterfalls as well as experience the culture and lifestyle of local ethnic groups.

The year will also help domestic and foreign businesses operating in the tourism sector push up their cooperation and effectively exploit the tourism potential of the region ande its provinces, including Lam Dong, Dak Nong,Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Kon Tum.

VNA/VOV